Maison Française de Cleveland
ABOUT US
The Maison Française de Cleveland was founded by Professor Émile B. de Sauzé shortly after his arrival in Cleveland in 1918. He set the pattern of meeting on a Friday evening once a month, at which time a professor from an American university or from France would lecture on some aspect of French literature or culture. As head of the Department of Foreign Languages for the Cleveland schools, he insisted that all French teachers attend these meetings. This nucleus quickly expanded when other interested parties joined the group.
In the 1940’s, M, de Sauzé prevailed upon the honorary French consul, M. Paul Wurzburger, to take on the presidency of the Maison Française, which he did for about twenty years. It was during the tenure of M. Wurzburger that the Maison Française became affiliated with the Fédération des Alliances Françaises aux États-Unis.
A subsequent president, Mme Eleanor Morse introduced the idea of having a dinner prior to the lecture. She also added to the Maison activities by inaugurating the annual French contest.
The current president, Mlle V. Lillian Politella, has guided the activities of the Maison Française since 1986. The Maison continues to meet once a month, almost always on a Friday evening, for dinner and a presentation in French. Having no facilities of its own, the Maison meets in the banquet rooms of large hotels, in church halls and on college campuses. Lectures are given in French by teachers and other francophone people in the region, as well as by speakers provided by the Federation. The talks can be on French literature, art, history, or culture, an sometimes on other francophone countries , such as Belgium, Haiti, Sénégal or Québec. At least once a year, a program of French music is provided, and once a year a French film. The Maison joins with the French-American Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Bastille Day.
To encourage the study of French by young people, a major event sponsored by the Maison each year is the Concours -- a French contest given to high school students in Cleveland, and another given to college/ university students in Northeast Ohio. The high school contest is an oral one, the college contest is both oral and written. Thanks to generous support from Mme Odette Wurzburger and Mme Eleanor Morse, significant prizes are awarded to a number of deserving students each year.
Presently, the membership of the Maison Française numbers about 200.